What Makes a Great Laundry Room

Layout Workflow

Think about the workflow and the layout of the space. Make sure you have plenty of room to work. A spacious laundry will accommodate more than just your washer and dryer. Make an area for dirty clothes, full hampers and for sorting closest to the washer and dryer. Allow for counter or table top space for folding, sorting and hanging items easily as they come out of the dryer. If necessary set up an area for hanging delicate items that can’t go in the dryer. In addition to a folding area, a place for an ironing board and shelves to sort clothes before they are delivered (or better yet picked up) by their respective owners is always a good idea.

The laundry is great area for storage if at all possible. Consider closets or shelves – perhaps even a cedar cabinet for storing clothes off season. The laundry is also the best place for cleaning supplies, mops and buckets.

Misc. thoughts:

• Add a small screen TV so that you can watch your favorite program while you iron or fold.
• If your laundry area is more visible – say just off the kitchen – consider doors or a curtain to cover folded clothes on open shelves.
• Check retailers like Home Goods, Restoration Hardware, Lowe’s and Home Depot for simple storage solutions. You’ll find closed basket style hampers, metal framed hampers on wheels with multiple bins for sorting that even have an area for hanging clothes, as well as industrial style laundry bags that can be hung conveniently on the back of a bedroom door.

So think about it. How much time do your spend in the laundry room? Unlike the kitchen, where we entertain and view as the hub of the household, the laundry room is generally an after thought…An after thought that somebody spends a good deal of time in each week. Making your laundry room more pleasant and efficient doesn’t have to cost fortune. After all, why shouldn’t it be a pleasure to be in, even if the work isn’t always a pleasure itself?